Chapter 1 Reading questions

Must people choose between science and religion? A. No, there is no contradiction in being scientific and religious in one's thinking. B. No, scientific and religious beliefs are incompatible. C. Yes, religion and science are completely antithetical. D. No, religion and science are essentially the same.

A. No, there is no contradiction in being scientific and religious in one's thinking.

In daily life, people are often praised for maintaining some particular point of view, for the "courage of their convictions." A change of mind is seen as a sign of weakness. How is this different in science? A. When a scientist finds evidence that contradicts a law, then the law must be abandoned. B. Once a scientific law is discovered, it never changes, so you must change your mind to believe it. C. Scientific laws are decided to be true by majority vote. D. When a famous scientist restates a law, then the old law must be abandoned.

A. When a scientist finds evidence that contradicts a law, then the law must be abandoned.

What is the test for whether a hypothesis is scientific or not? A. A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it wrong. B. A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it right. C. A hypothesis is scientific if the appropriate scientific body says it is. D. A hypothesis is scientific if it can be written as an equation.

A. A hypothesis is scientific if it is possible to prove it wrong.

In daily life, we see many cases of people who are caught misrepresenting things and who soon thereafter are excused and accepted by their contemporaries. How is this different in science? A. A scientist who lies in a scientific publication will suffer professional excommunication. B. A scientist who makes a mistake is never allowed to be a scientist again. C. A scientist who proposes a hypothesis that is eventually disproven is never allowed to be a scientist again. D. A scientist who disagrees with current theory is never allowed to be a scientist again.

A. A scientist who lies in a scientific publication will suffer professional excommunication.

Why is physics considered to be the basic science? A. As physicist Paul Tipler says about sciences other than physics, "What other sciences?" B. Physics is about how atoms combine to form molecules. C. Physics involves matter that is alive. D. Because all other sciences can be shown to be derived from it.

D. Because all other sciences can be shown to be derived from it.

What test can you perform to increase the chance in your own mind that you are right about a particular idea? A. Write down your own idea as an equation. B. Write a clear explanation of your idea and share it with everyone to gather objections. C. Read up on the validity of the axioms you assumed when you crafted your idea. D. See if you can state the objections of your opponents to their satisfaction.

D. See if you can state the objections of your opponents to their satisfaction.